UKRAINIAN YOUTH ASSOCIATION IN DEFENCE OF UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE

14.08.12

As we have reported before, members of the Ukrainian Youth Association have been both shocked and saddened at the threat to the Ukrainian language posed by the language law. On 12 August, during the traditional group photograph of the Association's summer camp, they decided to make their views known.

"The participants of the Youth Association's summer camp, named in honour of the heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, found out this week that the President of Ukraine had signed the disgraceful language bill. In 13 administrative regions and in Kyiv itself, Russian speaking citizens can demand that Russian should be an official regional language. This is the first step to adopting Russian as the second official language of Ukraine.

None of Ukraine's many occupying countries has been able to destroy the Ukrainian language, but this law is the biggest threat to Ukrainian since the time of the Soviet Union. We were born in the diaspora, and not everyone speaks Ukrainian, but we learn about Ukraine and carry Ukraine in our hearts and souls. We are a part of the great Ukrainian family, so we say to the President - the Ukrainian language of our ancestors should be dearest to everyone who considers themselves to be Ukrainian.

We support those who are against the language law in Ukraine and will do everything we can to honour, support and defend the Ukrainian language from anyone who wishes to destroy it!"

We commend the Ukrainian Youth Association for their action, and hope that young Ukrainians in other countries and in Ukraine will follow their example.